お題 When a cohesive soil is mixed with an excessive amount of water, it will be in a somewhat liquid state and flow like a viscous liquid. However when this viscous liquid is gradually dried, with the loss of moisture, it will pass into a plastic state. With further reduction of moisture, the soil will pass into a semisolid and then into a solid state. The moisture content in percent at which the cohesive soil will pass from a liquid state to a plastic state is called the liquid limit. Similarly, the moisture contents at which the soil changes from a plastic state to a semisolid state, and from a semisolid state to a solid state are referred to as the plastic limit and the shrinkage limit, respectively. These limits are referred to as the Atterberg limit.